In martial arts demonstrations, the host’s wushu artist Le Gia Han won the first prize in the women’s single event, while Pham Dinh Bang brought home the first prize in the men’s single event for Katori Shinto Ryu – a Japanese classical martial arts sect.
The demonstrations of Shorinji Kempo by Indonesian artists and taekwondo by the Ho Chi Minh City team received the first prizes in team and collective prizes.
The host’s traditional martial arts team claimed the first for the best demonstration, followed by a Taekkyon team from the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Bokator demonstration by Cambodia.
In the Muay combat part, Huynh Ha Huu Hieu (Vietnam) and Supawadee Icebouram (Thailand) were crowned the respective champions of the women’s 48kg and 54kg events. In addition, three Vietnamese athletes - Nguyen Thanh Trung, Nguyen Ngo Trieu Nhat and Nguyen Thanh Tung - bagged the first prizes in the men’s 54kg, 57kg and 67kg categories, respectively.
The festival, under the patronage of the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU), aims to honour cultural values and the quintessence of martial arts, contributing to international integration as well as affirming and improving Ho Chi Minh City’s position in the international arena.
This year’s event drew the participation of 15 martial arts team and sects of Vietnam as well as delegations from eight foreign countries: the RoK, Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Germany and Bulgaria.
The participants introduced numerous martial arts including Vovinam (Vietnam), Shorinji Kempo (Indonesia), Arnis (Philippines), Katori Shinto Ryu (Japan), Taekkyon (the RoK), bulkempo (Bulgaria) and Bokator (Cambodia).
